Beyond the competition, the Turkish Airlines Open plays an important role in the growth of golf - both regionally and globally.
Broadcast in 176 countries, the final event of the DP World Tour's Asian Swing provides a powerful platform to showcase Türkiye to an international audience.
This week marks the ninth edition of the Turkish Airlines Open, with the National Golf Club in Belek – Türkiye’s first internationally acclaimed course – taking on hosting duties for the first time.
Situated on the Turkish Riviera, Belek has become synonymous with high-quality golf tourism, offering a unique combination of championship courses, luxury hospitality and year-round playability.
With over 30 five-star resorts integrated with championship courses, more than 16 million international visitors visit Antalya annually.
Courses designed by iconic figures such as Sir Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie have helped establish Belek’s global reputation.
While relatively young as an event, having been formed in 2013, the Turkish Airlines Open has enjoyed international visibility through the participation of world-renowned players - including Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods.
In subsequent years, it became part of the Rolex Series from 2017 to 2019, when Justin Rose won twice and fellow Englishman Tyrrell Hatton lifted silverware.
Now, having returned to the DP World Tour schedule in 2025 after a five-year hiatus between 2020 and 2024, it bridges the end of the Asian Swing and start of the upcoming European Swing, reinforcing the Tour's globality.
Last year, France's Martin Couvra won his first DP World Tour title on his way to being crowned the 2025 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.
With a $2.75 million prize fund, players from 32 countries are teeing it up, in what is a significant juncture of the season as the DP World Tour members who finish in the top three positions in the Asian Swing Rankings will be exempt for next month's US PGA Championship at Aronimink.
Additionally, participation in the sport in Türkiye continues to rise, driven by long-term investment in grassroots programmes and increased visibility through elite-level events.
Since 2016, registered golfers in Türkiye have more than doubled, with nearly 7,000 active players nationwide and around 1,000 junior golfers in training programmes.
Turkish Airlines, which returns as title partner in 2026, has been central to this growth.
The Turkish Airlines World Golf Cup, the world's largest amateur golf tournament organised by the flag carrier since 2013, is being held in 117 destinations in 73 countries this year.
